By now, you have probably heard about AI (Artificial Intelligence), the hype, the pros and the cons. AI is basically technology that can quickly sort through a wealth of information, make decisions about what is relevant and return a coherent, comprehensive response. AI is designed to assist and augment human work, not replace it.
You may already be using embedded AI in your devices without being aware that you are, such as:
- AI powered health care monitoring devices
- Home automation systems, such as smart light bulbs, smart thermostats, smart security cameras
- Information devices, such as Amazon Echo and Google Nest
- Smart photo frames keeping you connected with your family
- Automated menu responses in businesses chats or phone menu systems
There are ways that you can access AI to assist you. Free AI apps are sufficient for what we need it to do, and are easy to use. A few AI Apps include:
- Microsoft Copilot
- Web-based www.chatgpt.com
- AI assistant apps on your Smart Phone
The information returned by an AI App is only as good as the “prompt’ you give it. You type your prompt into a box. A good prompt consists of 3 parts:
- Your role
- Your target audience
- What you want to know
Examples of prompts:
- I am a homeowner whose electric bill doubled this month. Please generate a letter to LCEC asking them to investigate, adjust my bill and give me the results of their diagnosis.
- I am a novice tennis player. Tell me how I can improve my tennis playing skills.
- I am writing a book about the iPhone. Please generate a list of 10 topics and a Table of Contents for the book.
Within literally minutes, your response is generated in front of your eyes! It is recommended that you know enough about the subject matter to check that the information is accurate. AI is only as good as the information it accesses on the internet; it is not infallible.
The text generated by AI can be copied, then pasted into a document (a letter, research, etc,) and the document saved and printed.
NOTE: Some AI programs can generate photos, videos, voices. During this political season, be on the watch for generated misinformation; do not believe everything you see and hear, such as a President telling you not to vote!
I am sure that once you experience the power of using AI, you will think of many new ways to use it.
I am committed to protecting your computers at an affordable price. Thank you for trusting me to keep your computers healthy. Contact us at 239-567-0104 when it is time to renew your protection software, join our computer training, or if you need computer and internet help. Be well.
By Linda Lindquist, August 5, 2024
https://www.computerandinternethelp.com/contact-us
